By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Montgomery, Plainsboro and West Windsor townships have been included in the Top 20 “Best Towns for Families” list for 2017 by New Jersey Family magazine., The magazine, which released its results March 23, based its decision on 11 factors that included the average home sale price and the amount of violent and non-violent crime., The magazine also reviewed public high school performance, such as the percentage of students taking Advanced Placement courses and the percentage who score above 1550 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test., None of the towns are inexpensive places to live. The average price of a home in Montgomery Township is $598,819. In Plainsboro, it is $387,960 and in West Windsor, the price tag is $585,878., Montgomery Township was named the best “family” town in Somerset County, and also placed second on the list of 511 towns that were reviewed for family-friendliness by the magazine. This is the second year in a row that it has earned second-place status., Mayor Ed Trzaska was pleased with Montgomery’s ranking, noting that it has a “unique balance between rural and suburban life, especially for central New Jersey.”, “Our open space is a major selling point,” Mayor Trzaska said, adding that 36 percent of the town is either preserved or protected open space., In the crime department, there were 97 major crimes reported in 2016. Of those 97 crimes, four were aggravated assault, which is considered a violent crime. The remaining 93 crimes were mostly burglaries and thefts., At Montgomery High School, 44.4 percent of students are enrolled in Advanced Placement courses. Of the students who took the SAT, 82 percent scored above 1550, according to the state Department of Education., Plainsboro Township ranked seventh in New Jersey, and was the top-rated town in Middlesex County for raising a family. It placed 23rd on the list last year., According to New Jersey Family magazine, Plainsboro is “a great option for families looking to get away from the hustle and bustle.” It has much to offer, including the 1,000-acre Plainsboro Preserve and its lake, walking trails and nature center., In 2016, the Plainsboro Police Department reported 149 major crimes. Only nine were considered to be violent. The remaining 140 crimes were mostly burglaries and thefts., West Windsor Township, with whom Plainsboro Township shares in a regional school district, rounded out the Top 20 by placing 19th on the list. It was also the top family-friendly town in Mercer County. Last year, it placed 70th on the list., Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh was happy that the township was recognized as a family-friendly community. He pointed to the awards and recognitions it has received for education, arts, culture, recreation, transportation and social diversity., On the crime front, there were 470 major crimes in West Windsor last year. There were 15 violent crimes that included nine assaults, one rape and five robberies. The rest of the crimes were mostly burglaries and thefts., West Windsor is one of the more desirable towns in New Jersey, according to New Jersey Family magazine, because of the highly regarded West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District. There are two high schools in the district – one in Plainsboro and one in West Windsor., West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, which is in Plainsboro Township, reported that 51 percent of students were enrolled in an Advanced Placement course. Of the students who took the SAT, 83 percent scored above 1550., Students enrolled in West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South, which is in West Windsor, turned in similar results. Of the total enrollment, 53 percent of students took an Advanced Placement course and 80 percent scored above 1550 on the SAT.
